Monday, 26 November 2018

Myra - a pretty little angel enters my
clinic with severe bloating and a complaint of stomach ache! When I asked her
mom, Anita, here is what she had to say

Anita: I am really worried Doctor, Myra hasn’t passed motions for two days
now. It has been a problem with Myra since her birth.

Dr
Nidhi: Don’t worry Anita, constipation is a common
problem all across the globe and can be a result of your lifestyle choices, medications,
food you eat or avoid and also due to certain diseases.

Anita: But I have been very particular about her diet. Even if we eat
outside, I make sure she eats healthy. Her older brother does not listen and
eats whatever he wants but he never had such a problem. I am scared if Myra’s
condition will worsen with time.

Dr
Nidhi: As far as her brother is concerned,
different bodies react differently to their surroundings. Talking about Myra’s
condition I think it is not that bad. Less than three bowel movements per week
is characterized as constipation. While sometimes it may be chronic, other
times it can occur occasionally. I can understand it’s uncomfortable for her
and it has disrupted her play routine. (Myra smiled)

After examining Myra I gave her constitutional
homeopathic medicine for getting relief from her symptoms.

Dr
Nidhi: Along with this medicine I would also
suggest some healthy lifestyle changing tips so that Myra can live a medicine
free life!

Anita: That would be great Doctor. Are there any natural remedies we can
opt for?

Dr
Nidhi: Yes, there are many natural remedies you can
try if you don’t want to take over the counter medicines. Main concentration
needs to be on drinking more water. Dehydration can make you constipated. Myra
should have at-least two liters of water daily.

Anita: She doesn’t drink water, Doctor. Even after a meal she drinks a sip
or two and that’s it.

Dr
Nidhi: Try to hydrate her body every hour by making
her drink one glass of water especially when she is in an air conditioned
environment. The next thing you can do is give her lots of dietary fibre.

Dr
Nidhi: Ok, even soaked raisins overnight work
wonders for stomach. Vegetables like broccoli and spinach are great sources of
fiber too - give them in form of soup in this winter season to get the optimum
result. And also it’s far better than eating broccoli as a vegetable.

Anita: That could
work.

Dr
Nidhi: The soups will keep her bowel movements on
track. But just in case for occasional constipation problems you can give her
warm water with half lemon and one teaspoon honey which can help in putting her
system back on track. Lemon acts as a stimulant and flushes out toxins while
honey works as a mild laxative.

Anita: That could come to our rescue on our trips and tours.

Dr
Nidhi: Along with proper diet she must also
exercise. It’s said that movement of the body is necessary for bowel movement.
Try taking her for regular walks or outdoor activities to reduce the symptoms
of constipation. Pranayama too has a great role in relaxing stomach muscles.

Anita: She hasn’t always been very athletic but I guess I can take her on
morning walks with me. It will give me a reason to start walking again.

Dr Nidhi:Oils are good laxatives that help in cleaning
the intestines and also promote bowel movements. You can give her one tea spoon
of castor oil on an empty stomach and wait for 8 hours to see its magic!

I could see Anita’s face contorting; she
knew her daughter would not like the smell of castor oil. Hence I gave them an
alternative.

Dr
Nidhi: If castor oil is unacceptable you can give
her warm milk with one tablespoon ghee at bedtime to have a happy morning.

Anita: Thank you Doctor, I know I would have a pretty hard time giving her
castor oil. She likes ghee that won’t be a problem for her.

Dr Nidhi: Does she like yogurt?

(Myra Nodded)

Dr
Nidhi:Make
a proper balance between Prebiotic and Probiotic. Yogurts are an excellent
Probiotic. They are full of good bacteria. Prebiotics are banana , artichokes ,
garlic , asparagus, barley, applesetc .
Probiotics can be found in fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, and yogurt.
You must regularly consume prebiotics and probiotics for good bowel movements.

Anita: She loves
fruits and yogurt so I don’t think we will have problem over there.

Dr
Nidhi: These remedies along with medicines would do
wonders for her. During constipation please avoid eating cheese, pork, bread,
fried food and spicy food as it can further cause trouble for the bowel
movements.

Anita: Thank you Doctor. I was worried about her but now with all the
things that you have recommended I think she won’t have a problem with her
stomach anymore.

Dr
Nidhi: Having a healthy gut is the key to build a
strong immune system. It also helps you focus on your life without having to
worry about the symptoms and pain. If you’re seeking any help with your symptoms,
opt for integrated healthcare in Pune for long-term benefits.

I hope this discussion was helpful for you.
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Sunday, 11 November 2018

Alifiya, an IT professional, entered my clinic with a complaint of severe pain in throat and wanted a respite ASAP. I calmed her down and began the conversation by taking her history. Here’s how our conversation proceeded.

Dr Nidhi: Have you eaten anything spicy or junk food or are you allergic to anything?

Alifiya: Yes, I’m allergic to dust and few food items such as milk and pineapple. Do you think it’s because of the allergy? I am really having a hard time dealing with it. Due to the pain, dryness, and irritation in my throat, I’m not able to swallow food.

Although at first it looked like an allergy, after a thorough examination I diagnosed that it was pharyngitis. This condition is quite common since winters are here and sitting in an AC environment does aggravate dryness in the throat. Besides giving her Homeopathic sweet pills I told her to use some home remedies as well to get a faster recovery.

Here are the things that I suggested her that are really effective in the case of pharyngitis.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

Mix one spoon of Apple Cider Vinegar in a glass of warm water, add some honey and drink it once a day on an empty stomach to give a protective layer to your throat. ACV works magical due to its anti-bacterial anti-fungal and anti-viral properties in this weather.

2. Salt Water

Gargling with hot or warm salt water is one of the first things that the elders suggest for the soreness and are right to do so. Salt water can help in treating your sore throat and kill the pharyngitis causing bacteria. Mix one tea spoon of salt or sea salt in a glass of warm water and gargle with this solution three times in a day.

3. Honey

One of the most trusted remedies for pharyngitis, honey works better for upper respiratory infections compared to other over-the-counter medicines. Mix a teaspoon of honey in warm water, add some lemon pinch of star anise powder and drink it slowly. Keep drinking this throughout the day till your condition improves.

4. Turmeric

Turmeric being a powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory doctor from our kitchen can be used with milk at bedtime for a quick recovery. The Golden latte, as the world calls it, works magically on throat problems.

5. Garlic

The active compound allicin in Garlic makes it work like an antibiotic. You can mix garlic oil in water and gargle for instant relief. You can also make tea with garlic, cinnamon and pepper. Consume fresh garlic pieces like a cough drop and crush the garlic between your teeth to release its allicin for best results.

Alifiya was very happy to know that all these prescriptions can be made and consumed in the comfort of her home.

Alifiya: Thank you doctor, I already feel better and I am trying all of it the moment I reach home. This is great!

Dr Nidhi: Wonderful! But all these things would work if you follow a small set of instructions. They are as follows.

Things to Keep in Mind:

1. Chicken soup can also offer relief to a sore throat.
2. Make sure you drink water several times in a day to stay hydrated. You can drink warm water for some relief.
3. Avoid smoking and tobacco products. Also, ensure you’re not passive smoking.
4. Try to get ample of rest to recover quickly.
5. You can also drink chamomile tea and peppermint tea for better healing.

Alifiya: I will follow the instructions like a ritual doctor.

Dr Nidhi: (Chuckles) Very well.

Alifiya did follow all the instructions and got well very soon. The holistic health care has always aimed at a natural way of healing. Hence when you choose integrated healthcare in Pune over medicines, you can find relief for a long-term without any side-effects.

I hope this blog was helpful for you.
Stay Fit Stay Happy!

Word of Caution - Usage of home remedies is not generalized! Please consult a doctor or nutritionist for consuming any of the above.